One Red Dot

A tiny red dot.  Two actually.  One on each child's forearm.  That's what it boils down to these days.  For the last day and for the next two  it will be all about the dot.  We pray that the tiny dots stay tiny.  An odd prayer, I know.   

Our boys have, unknowingly, been in close, constant contact with someone with tuberculosis.  It baffles me that we are still dealing with this disease. Statistics will tell you that in this day and age there are only twenty two countries left  that have high incidences of tuberculosis in the entire planet.  The Philippines is one of them. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the country today.  This is the sad state of our affairs.  Our health system really needs a shot in the arm.

Speaking of shot in the arm, each of the boys got one yesterday. For now we watch and wait and check if the teeny tiny injection mark changes.  We've been briefed.  The larger and more palpable the mark, the more exposure they have had to this disease. The next course of action will depend entirely on that.  So far, so good.  Thirty hours to go.  For now I say my odd little prayer and wait. Patience has never been my strongest suit.